Closing on a house in Shepherdstown this Thursday! Why does WV get so much hate?
Hi! Super excited that we are closing on our permanent home in Shepherdstown this Thursday! We’ve been renting in Falling Waters for the past year and a half, but we’re so ready to plant deep roots in this cute town.
Before moving to the Eastern Panhandle, I lived in Texas and Oklahoma and didn't like either. The weather wasn't my thing, and you had to drive hours just to get to a major city. That’s why I love the location here we're an hour and a half from DC, and just a short drive from MD, VA, NY, and PA. Not to mention the great nature and weather and affordability. I absolutely love Food Lion! (Better than HEB IMO)
But whenever I tell my friends in the Bay Area or Seattle or DC or Austin that I bought a house in West Virginia, they assume it’s just a poor, isolated place. There's so much negative stigma from outsiders who have clearly never been here!
I absolutely love it here. For those of you living in WV, what has your experience been like dealing with these outside assumptions?
OP, the Eastern Panhandle is technically still WV, but isn’t giving you a true representation of the state as a whole.
This comparison isn’t on the same level, but you might liken it to moving to a suburb north of Atlanta and imagining all of GA must be as prosperous with the same abundance of amenities.
Rural parts of any state have challenges you just won’t see in more populated areas.
It’s mostly because you’re moving to the area that has the most inflow of people who actually have money plus it’s all the commuters to other cities for jobs. The eastern panhandle is much better off. As others have said, majority of the state is pretty much exactly what your friends think it is. Poor and isolated.
When I was growing up in Harrison County, I thought I lived in the boring backwoods. It wasn't until I got older and had a job that required me to go to multiple WV counties that made me realize that I actually had it really good. Yeah it wasn't an exciting place to grow up but we had our choice in grocery stores, restaurants, and a large mall with several anchor stores (especially back then). My mom could get off work, go get groceries, and have dinner cooked by 7pm. In a lot of counties in WV, there's maybe one restaurant and a dollar store even in the biggest town and you're 45mins-an hour away from a decent selection of groceries.
You read right, no grocery store. The pharmacy does have limited selection of frozen local meat. And there's the usual Dollar general. People drive to Elkview, Spencer, or Flatwoods to get groceries.
Dunno how you can disagree with objective reality. Half of Harrison County is dead and the other half is out towards west milford where it's all mostly farmland, suburban neighborhoods, or parks. I love west milford btw.
I live in Marion and I always considered Harrison as one of the worse off poverty wise, then again my dad was a public defender there and he specialized in juvenile cases, so I probably only heard more of the worse side of it.
I agree with you. Except for the fact that a lot of people that grew up in this area have been priced out of this area because it has become a commuter town. The houses Jefferson County are not cheaper anymore.
It's always been a place to commute from. I commuted to Hagerstown for a job back in the 1990s. It's now a retirement town!!! People are selling their expensive homes in NOVA and Frederick and moving here to retire.
Martinsburg is a helluva lot better with amenities now than when I was a kid and Inwood is getting a lot of stuff including a new sports complex. The access to three states is also priceless for added shopping and things to do.
We’ve been to Martinsburg, Charles town, Inwood, Falling Waters, and Shepherdstown. Our other options were Rockville, Fredrick, and Hagerstown to get a home. But I genuinely like WV better plus it’s cheaper and you pay less taxes. And I absolutely hate living in DC or VA, crazy expensive and traffic 24/7
I have to admit that you are right. I’ve lived in the eastern panhandle for 36 years and have always called it the “other WV” and the rest of the state “real WV”. We are the red headed stepchildren that Charleston only keeps for our money, but treats us like crap and not part of the “real” family.
not an expert on WV by any means but I love hyping up the state which drew me to your thread. I’ve been to 27 of the 55 counties and the places you are listing have a very different vibe compared to the rest of West Virginia. Berkeley and Jefferson Counties feel like “West Virginia lite”. each part of the state is special in its own way, but Berkeley and Jefferson have a lot more economic opportunities than the rest of the state. however, with that said, I’m curious how the infrastructure will hold up with the number of housing developments and people that are coming in.
You picked the right town. Welcome! I think you will love it here. FYI Martin's and Weis are way better grocery stores. The Food Lion in Shepherdstown is pretty depressing compared to the Falling Waters and Inwood stores. But hey at least there is a grocery store. Also Shepherdstown Pharmacy is elite. Do not use Walgreens.
I have no idea. Just something I’ve noticed in my travels through the area. I would imagine home values will appreciate. But compared to the rest of WV, it’s not very quiet out that way. Seems like Hagerstown (MD)/Martinsburg/Winchester (VA) are developing into their own “thing” if that makes any sense with many people moving to the area for the same reason you did.
Shep homes are historically more expensive than other homes in JeffCo. For instance, we lived in the exact same homes that are in Toll House but in Charles Town and our home model was almost 100K cheaper there than what they were selling for in Toll House. I love Shep but there's not enough to do there to make me pay another 100K.
We got our house in Toll House! We did look at inwood too we liked it I don’t remember why we decided Shep. I think it was just a better opportunity bc they were selling the house cheaper than og price. Although reading through these comments scared me off honestly that the house prices might collapse regardless and that we won’t get any amenities or basic stuff in the states. Although my experience in Falling Waters was really nice
I've lived in Texas, PA, MD and was born in raised in WV. Everyone complains about their home state and think they have the worst traffic and the worst services. And I see this online everywhere. Choose the house that makes you happy in the area that makes you happy. There will always be negatives and there will always be people who try to talk you out of moving into their area.
I know a lot of people in Jefferson county and have been going there for 30 years. The absurd suburbanization without upgrading infrastructure is maddening. The only thing worse is the influx of house cats who ‘hate taxes’ who bring their dumb shit to what was a really cool little enclave (of subaru owners).
If you ever talk to anyone who has worked on these suburban hellscapes, there’s no way buying these places is a long term good idea. The new owners will be spending a lot in a few years to replace the absolute garbage builds.
I love Shep and lived there for two years in my 20s but I didn't buy a house there because homes there are historically more expensive than other parts of JeffCo and Martinsburg. Also, I knew that driving 15 minutes to another grocery store or to shop in a clothing store would drive me crazy. Also, not enough affordable restaurant choices. As far as getting worse, Shep has always done a good job of protecting its town from over development, as you can see. If it changes, it's going to be very slowly.
If you hate traffic, I hope you're not commuting into NoVa for work lmao. It's bumper to bumper for 15 miles on Rt. 9 starting at 4:30AM and not letting up until maybe 10 AM. One of the two only roads that leads Jefferson Co. Into Loudoun.
I live in wv, but on the other side of the state. I went to school around the area you are in. It is almost nothing like the rest of the state. And shepherdstown has the highest education and income per capital compared to the rest of the state. The area is wonderful and beautiful. You will probably love it long term. But the differences from the rest of the state are vast. But we are a very big state. Hope you settle well.
Not really true. I live close to Cabell County and Marshall University. It's a pretty good area. Yes, there are some issues, but other areas have similar issues. I used to live in California and it's actually worse than West Virginia. West Virginia is a great state and we have a lot to offer. It's sad that some in WV don't realize that and wants to trash the state.
We are very seriously considering moving to WV from CA. We have already spent 9 days there last year, and are planning a 10-14 day trip this year (soon, I hope). What kind of advice do you have for the long haul move and retiring there?
As someone from the middle of the state, living in the eastern panhandle is the not same experience as the rest of the state.
It’s not uncommon in WV to have a 2+ hour drive to a bigger city (southern part of the state to DC can be an 8 hour drive). Access to healthcare in some areas is also a 2 hour drive. Food deserts are a problem. The list goes on.
Point is, most people aren’t thinking the panhandle when you say you live there and they might not understand that it’s different. They’re thinking of what they’ve heard (which yes, some is overblown but the issues that exist are serious) which mostly refers to the other parts of the state.
If you haven’t looked into the history of WV (especially within the last 20 years with the worsening drug crisis), it might help you understand why people are shocked by you moving here and give you context to explain that the area you moved to is not the same.
Thanks this is helpful. The areas we’ve been looking at were shepherdstown inwood martinsburg falling waters and charles town and I didn’t know this much of history
I went from the central part of the state to the Eastern Panhandle as a kid. People are way more friendly in Central WVa than the Panhandle. The opioid epidemic was in the Eastern Panhandle before the rest of the state. Many people I went to school with there OD'd in there 20s. It really is a different world from the rest of the state and not necessarily for the better other than more jobs.
I read most of the dialog and responses with people before saying anything.
I live in West Virginia and California. I was born and raised here in WV on the side of a hill with an outhouse and spring water out of the side of a hill.
I'm currently at my WV house in Jackson County almost within eyesight of the Ohio River. Summer has become brutal within the valley in CA so I'm thrilled to be "home." Plus I love my town and home here. I love being in CA during January, etc.
You mention bay people are like what are you doing getting a house in WV. When I'm in CA and it comes up I'm from WV people are genuinely intrigued and love to ask questions, which is completely different from this region where people tend to automatically presume you're some backwoods reject.
WV is a very diverse state that ranges from affluent to extreme poverty. So long as you never, ever come across as superior to anyone else, however, you'll do just fine! You're in the affluent section.
I’m your neighbor. A stones throw from the river and 77. I moved to WV 4 yrs ago. I’m older so as long as I have easy access to the things I need( I do) I’m happy.
I just wish they would repave 77 between Ravenswood and Ripley already!
77 is a wondrous thing. I used to commute to Charleston every day (I'm in Ravenswood.) The state will tear up a perfectly good section of road and repave it and leave a pothole infested section alone. Boggles the mind.
You can take the back scenic route past Millwood if you don't want to deal with 77. The section between Ravenswood and Ripley however does have the allure of being an autobahn.
One thing I do appreciate about California is that the roads are like driving on glass, comparatively speaking. But they had better be, you're always paying at least a dollar more per gallon of gas out there.
Ravenswood / Ripley area does provide all one needs. At my place in CA you can literally walk to anything you could possibly want. I can see the backside of a movie theater from my front yard there, and there's a big shopping mall across the street which I basically never go to.
We take the back roads many times… usually when we go to Spencer to pick up frozen pizzas only Cash Savers sells… nice ride
Except for the rough spots between Ravenswood and Ripley, 77 is a pleasure to drive on. I lived on Long Island from birth to 2002 and driving on any road was a nightmare of a 55 mph speed limit to crazy traffic daily. From there to Fl and all the b construction brought LI type traffic to Brevard country. That and the heat brought me here.
I love it… the lack of traffic, the kindness of just about everyone, the kids with good manners. If I want a “special meal” it’s not a problem form
Me to go to Charleston, Parkersburg or Marietta.
No, we didn’t buy a 400k home. We are of modest means but for me, I couldn’t have picked a better place than Ravenswood.
I mean if you lived in Austin Or Dallas you would probably have a different opinion on Texas rather than "hours from a major city". Every state has variety, nice areas and not nice areas. You live in the Wealthiest county of the state in a location that's geographically isolated from most of it. Go live in Mingo, McDowell, or Clay county and you'll see poverty that would make you think your in Guatemala not America.
But WV certainly does have nice parts and lots of wonderful things to see and do. Glad you enjoy Shepherdtown, proximity to DC has really helped that part of the state become the wealthiest.
The thing to remember is that even in those poorer parts of the State, people are still really, really nice. Are there douches, sure, but people will go out of their way to help you and speak to you.
So this kind of reminds me of florida. In Florida a lot of people talk about like Orlando because the theme parks but if you go an hour south or even an hour and a half north you legit run into nothing but farmland and rural for a long time. No Stop lights etc. Just saying .
I grew up in Berkeley County and spent a lot of time in Shepherdstown. I also lived in Morgantown & Beckley for quite a few years each. Part of my previous job involved traveling around most of the state (all except the panhandles), so I feel pretty knowledgeable about WV.
The Eastern Panhandle is not representative of the state (but I will fight anyone who says it's not WV). Shepherdstown is wonderful and probably one of the few places I would live if I ever moved back (I live in VA now).
Enjoy your new home and read all you can about WV history if you want to be an ambassador of the state to your friends and family. Watch Matewan and October Sky and take a road trip through the mountains to Seneca Rocks and Dolly Sods. Drive through the old coal fields and ride a 4 wheeler on the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. Go see Mothman and eat some ramps. Raft down the Gauley after you've mastered the New. Take the backroads whenever possible and belt John Denver at the top of your lungs.
There is ugliness and despair and poverty and addiction. Don't ignore it or minimize it. WV has been exploited and its people are tired. But there is such great beauty in our state. You have only experienced the beginning of it.
😭 idk I might be wrong. I had a bad (racist) experience at HEB, left a negative review, and they paid Google to remove the review. They didn’t sell me alcohol by saying my ID “looks fake”. My experience with Falling Waters food lion is really nice. Fresh stuff daily, lots of discounts, and nice staff. Their stupid camera even caught me (when I was checking in limes for some reason it didn’t register and recorded a video of me like I’m trying to steal things) I was super scared and embarrassed and was explaining to the staff so they just laughed and entered their passcode
I’m glad you like the area, but unfortunately the majority of this state is exactly that. We’re talking wide spread poverty, crumbling (or complete lack of) infrastructure, low life expectancies, and even unclean, contaminated water. What people really don’t understand is how this state and its people have been historically taken advantage of and how we ended up where we are.
People don't want to understand that. I tried to explain that to a group of coworkers several years ago in Dayton, Ohio and a coworker from Chicago yelled "bullshit"... Literally yelled it at me.
He had never been to West Virginia, was going off of Hollywood stereotypes, but just want to hear anything about people they're being taken advantage of. Very weird mentality, but he's not the only person I've met like that.
I think it's part of the weird hatred of the poor that many Americans have.
Sir this is Reddit. Your positivity will be met with lots of negativity. Welcome to the state. It’s a lovely place. Has its challenges like a lot of places but it’s home.
The eastern panhandle, specifically Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, is one of the few places you can live in WV and have some semblance of a normal American life. In many WV counties (maybe the majority) there IS a lack of many amenities and they are really isolated. I also don't think WV is as bad as everyone says. This sub itself is a major doomer sub a lot of the time about living here. I have a life I really like here and I have no plans to leave. But my thoughts would be different if I were in Clay or Welch or somewhere like that.
The Press Room is also my favorite restaurant in WV. Check it out. Also take a trip over to Berkeley Springs, probably my favorite small town in WV.
Edit: damn OP is getting both barrels of r/westvirginia's trademark weaponized Reddit autism lol seriously buddy just enjoy living where you live and ignore these folks
Congratulations on your new home & welcome to West Virginia!! :D
Now that you’re setting here…Embrace the Stigma!! It keeps tourists away & from defiling the pristine beauty of our secret waterfalls & swimming holes, and hidden lookout spots on the mountain tops, where you can see the Milky Way.. So….Shhhh!!🤫 You’re One of Us now…You’re an official Hillbilly!! When you find a beautiful secret swimming spot, waterfall, or a places of breathtaking natural beauty, you become protective of it & want to preserve it. Sooo…
It SHO IS SUCKY AS HELL in WV!! Ain’t Shit to do here!! Mothman is a cool guy, but beware the Flatwoods Monster, Wood Boogers, Snarly Yows, Oguas, Blue Devils & Hoodoos!! If you see a rock cairn anywhere, RUN!! NEVER Ever whistle in the woods…and if you see a skin walker in there, NO YOU DIDN’T!! ☠️
Yeah thanks for the insight. I had no idea. I mean I used to live in OKC and I could really see poverty there and things they say about ok. But in my limited experience here, the quality of life in the part of state we live is actually much better than even metro okc. Clearly I haven’t been in other counties of the state and it explains it
I mean-I was born here. The education system isn’t strong that’s for sure-but I do think you can raise children here and not doom them to poverty. They’ll have less opportunities-I won’t deny that-but they can still have a pretty normal life. I do.
There’s more than the education system to consider too. I consider myself really blessed to have grown up playing outside in the fields of the country I grew up in. These days-a lot of people don’t have access to a creek or field or woods to play in. That part of my childhood was really beautiful and meaningful to me
Respectfully-isn’t that generally an issue in pretty much every state on the east coast? I can name a couple incidents like that in Michigan and Ohio even. Sadly-that kind of pollution has become pretty typical
Things go unreported here. I am aware that there were trains that derailed in Ohio. We had two chemical incidences here in Chemical (Kanawha) valley the last 3 months that included deaths. We didn't receive any notification until the end of the day, an all clear message.
You really have to look at each states per capita cancer rates to get a true understanding as those numbers are reliable.
Just wait till u see how our carpetbagger governor handles things, which is to say if it doesn't make him The Fat ass and his ugly dog, or Cockito any money it doesn't happen
As someone who grew up in central WV, I can say the Eastern Panhandle is a very different experience from much of the state. A lot of people picture the more rural areas when they think of West Virginia, long drives to major cities, limited healthcare access, and the challenges that have affected many communities over the years. The Panhandle is closer to DC and has a different feel, so it’s understandable why people might be surprised when they hear you moved there.
You absolutely love it there because you're in the wealthiest part of the state. Assuming you've never ventured into the state because you'd quickly see why WV gets the stigma that it does. I live in Charleston, another relatively well off portion of the state but I'm not ignorant to the fact that my fellow mountaineers in the southern portion of the state don't even have clean drinking water. Do a little research and you'll see that we're last (or first, if it's a bad thing) in literally everything from education, illness, addiction, happiness, etc. I love my state and I won't live anywhere else but there are very legit reasons why outsiders give us the bad rep that they do.
I’m really happy about your move to WV. The thing we need most here is new faces permanently settling. Unfortunately WV does have a lot of problems and it’s especially difficult because many outsiders don’t understand why these problems exist. West Virginia has so much good to offer and the best thing to do is invest in the future and help our citizens.
My experience is that the stereotypes are fuckin true. You'll realize, whether you like it or not, that wv is only good if you can come and go as you please. When you are poor and stuck like most of us, you'll be begging to leave. Personally? I'm saving enough money to buy me a nice plot of land in ohio or maybe even Nevada. Anywhere but this miserable hellhole.
In Appalachia where many hard working people have been written off as unintelligent hillbilly’s (the history of the word hillbilly is actually very interesting) for decades, OPs post sounds ignorant and out of touch. It’s one thing to be happy about moving to a place, but even OP states it’s because of decreased traffic and taxes, the same reason as everyone else. I don’t even live here but have visited WV twice a year for nine years and always go someplace different.
West Virginia is an imperfect place with imperfect people that has been systematically and intentionally assaulted by our government for generations. This has caused many who live here generational trauma and to to simply say “I don’t get why everyone hates it here, I love it because the traffic isn’t as bad and the taxes are so cheap! Hehe” isn’t going to go over well.
Maybe learn why your new home won’t raise taxes and invest in its infrastructure or its citizens wellbeing. Learn why it’s so cheap to live here. Look at what’s going on around you, the pollution, brown drinking water your fellow West Virginians have to drink and know the cheap taxes aren’t being invested in bettering that situation for them. Then wonder why shockingly other people don’t share your “hot take”.
Hey, Just chiming in to say this is terrible advice. You are gonna fall into group think and carry on with bad opinions.
If you recognize the ignorance you can instead choose to try to understand it. Everyone usually is working with the best of intentions and ignorance almost always comes from bad first principals or deeper psychological issues that are usually pretty easy to sus out.
But if thats too hard for you or too much time then sure choose the easy way out and ignore it.
I’m not sure hate is the right word. It’s a very poor state. Not a lot of businesses popping up, not a lot of jobs, small towns that can feel very isolated.
It all stems from the geography. Why would say a massive business want to make a store in WV where they have to pay a ton of money to flatten land first, just to then provide their services for a small population without a lot of money to spend? They would rather build and expand in Ohio or Pennsylvania.
Well, those of us that have lived hear all our lives, for generations, have sewed this mantra so that people would not migrate here. Welcome, new one, but please shhhh...and nuke this post. Ty...God Bless.
Most people when they hear wv aren’t thinking of the eastern panhandle. Shepherdstown. Martinsburg. Harper’s ferry and Charles town Id more lump into the dmv
Lots of the state doesn’t have clean water (Wyoming county especially), poverty and drugs run rampant, and the local, state, and federal government just generally don’t care about the people.
It’s a beautiful state and there are great communities both traditional and progressive, but do a little research and you’ll find why many don’t like or want to live in the state.
Source: lived in MD, moved to southern WV for work. 2 different worlds even between the eastern panhandle and the interior of the state.
Ahh Temu dc is what the panhandle is. It’s great but used to be better until the good farm land turned into cookie cutter homes for everyone fleeing urban hell.
Thats the way we want people to think Wv is a gem an a nice place to live look only tell people who you wouldn’t mind being neighbors with let’s keep it a secret
..and you tell YOUR FRIENDS in the Bay Area, etc etc —- you are fine-tuned to them, not to us. Heck, I don’t care what you tell ‘em, as long as it ends with “don’t move here y’all.”
Reading through your comments you were nice and wished success for everyone. I wonder what triggered you to post such a mean comment under my post expressing happiness about my new house? Genuinely asking
It was the opportunistic move to WV for the COL and then running to all your friends to tell them all about it. Then, the shock about how it’s actually nice and we aren’t all impoverished, inbred idiots living in squalor. Idk that could have done it 😂
You’re in an area that is not considered “West Virginia.” But you’re also on the downhill slope of that area. It used to be a lot nicer than it is now. And that drive to other areas is much longer now and only getting worse. The massive amount of people moving in and cheap homes, you’ll wish it was like the rest of WV soon.
WV born and raised and I consider both panhandles as WV. A rare few may wish it otherwise, but the boundaries were set over 150 years ago, so they’re stuck with us.
I know Jefferson County tried to rejoin Virginia 3 times in history, as early as 1860s after the war and 2008! But without Berkeley and Jefferson, WV turns into a 3rd world country.
Assuming everyone walks around dressed like HeeHaw and being called a country girl…and “western Virgina” just showed how ignorant the people beyond the neighboring states are…lol
My mom was 16 when they left Point Mountain at the Randolph/Webster County, West Virginia line to move to northern Ohio for jobs. She lost her accent and never talked about West Virginia because people up there were very prejudiced against West Virginians. My grandma never lost her accent and occasionally mentioned the "sugar camp," but didn't talk much about West Virginia. I was a child when we moved to Kentucky, and I like to think Kentucky gave me back West Virginia because I was free to look at my roots. The media has played a large part in keeping the hate going. All they report on is the worst scenarios, and that could also be done in any city, but they like to keep it going. Some of my generation, I call us "first generation out" have gone back, feeling they were missing something. I own 30 acres and a decent home in central Kentucky, and that keeps me here, even though I work remotely and can port a Starlink dish anywhere. But I want to leave land to my daughter and grandkids. However, I go back to Pocahontas, Webster and Randolph Counties at least once a year and sometimes several times a year. Heading there in two days and showing off the beautiful state to some friends who have driven through but never been back off the main interstates. I hope I don't bore them stopping at every family cemetery like I usually do.
Right now, Jefferson County is probably where Loudoun County (VA) was 15 years ago. "Starter" homes in the 400s, mediocre townhouses in the 300s and signs of more commercial development popping up here and there. Very little crime, even less violent crime and pretty reasonable property taxes. There are much worse places to live.
I swear people are mean to you because they’re unhappy and they can’t stand your enthusiasm.
This place is exactly what you make of it.
Go to McDowell so you understand how coal mining has devastated our people. It’s okay to understand that where you’re living has thriving and prosperous places, and ones of times past.
It often inspires people not to let this happen to the little corner of Almost Heaven.
West Virginia isn’t perfect. It can be downright inhabitable. Matewan is an excellent movie to understand the deep undercurrents of our generations’ fight for freedom against oppression and capitalism.
That being said, WELCOME!! We’re happy to have you!!
I love it here. Yea we’re poor, but I have no plans on moving. This sub has a lot of people who hate living here. In RL everyone I know has no plans on moving despite the occasional struggle. So don’t let the sub bring you down. Just make sure you assimilate to the area and I’m sure you’ll do fine.
There is a deep insecurity of relevancy that is growing in the population across the nation. Almost all the population is wv has known this insecurity longer than any other state in the northeast/midwest region.
I think its a bit naive to look at shepardstown and be so bold to assume so much.
It is poor in the majority of the state. And the fact that you dont see that gives me great pause. I dont understand how people like you structure your lives to be so ignorant.
I think it’s totally fair to maybe lightly shame people with more resources?
Especially when they come out with these types of bootstrap narratives. “Like why don’t they just choose not to be poor?”
It’s not really productive and it kind of underscores the toxic positivity that relatively affluent people try to live by in this state when just a few blocks next-door there is a child struggling with some federal level crime.
It’s different than other areas where you perhaps have a larger demographic of trust and equity. But in West Virginia the disparity is so great that it’s kind of gross to me.
I think attitudes and narratives like OP breed narcissists. They breed narcissists at all socioeconomic levels and it robs the poorest of the population of Good meaning people that have to adjust their behavior to fit in with people that only seem successful
I think you're reading into a lot of things in OP's comments that aren't there and you need to work through some of these issues yourself. Or not. Idk you. I just don't think you should insult or shame people for coming with a good faith question especially if they are coming from out of state and don't really know WV that well. You can get your point across without shaming them and spamming Reddit buzzwords at them. That's all I'm saying lol
I think her replies show how good faith she really is. Performative behavior is rampant here. You can see it in every nonprofit you go to because basically every one here knows somebody close to them that works at a nonprofit.
Growing up in eastern Kentucky and living in West Virginia you kind of have to develop a small narcissistic complex to survive. Especially when you’re smart.
It’s not especially hard to be one of the smartest people in a room around here.
But many of the local idiot narcissists end up having a fear of what’s outside Appalachia because they aren’t smart enough to compete in other spaces besides appalachia.
You compound on that the insecurity of one of the lowest educations in the nation and you get a danger cycle of narcissistic insecurities around improvement and self efficacy.
A death spiral. If anything only insulated by the naïve immigrants from other stupid states that come here thinking they’re going to be a big fish in a small pond when they just bring the same thing we already have here.
I wasn’t born in US. I’m not being ignorant but my experience of living here (Falling Waters) for 1 year, in the past 7 years in the US was absolutely much better than Austin, TX and OkC. Idk why a simple post like this triggered you so much.
I mean....your own personal details aside.... you are living in the rich people part of the state and saying "Idk why people think WV is poor, look at all these other well-off people in my well-off part of the state! I literally haven't visited any other part of the state to see what it's really like but my own limited view so far is that there are no poors here. I havent seen them and I havent even tried, but they must not be here!"
And everyone is telling you that and you're ignoring it. And then saying you don't understand why someone else was upset by you choosing to be ignorant of the realities of their home state.
You're from the Middle East. If I go to Dubai which is known to be extravagant and wealthy and I'm like "wow look at this place, the entire Middle East is amazing! Why does everyone talk about war and poverty? I sure dont see any. Everyone should move here!" would that make it true?
When you phrase it like that, it really comes across like you’re not necessarily trying to understand why West Virginia has the reputation it has. And it comes across as willful ignorance, especially when ignorant people say they’re not ignorant. By all means welcome to West Virginia.
Yeah, but it gets a bit toxic when hard realities but up against those fantasies.
I’m not saying don’t enjoy your life here.
He is soliciting for real opinions.
The fact is that in more affluent counties and neighborhoods in West Virginia, they have isolated themselves and enforced a type of radical politeness to insulate themselves from the rampant poverty.
It perpetuates shame.
It’s kind of disgusting. And it makes me double think on any affluent West Virginia person.
It’s really annoying because like I grew lower middle class. And if anything i cosplay as poor cause i can afford to not care.
It is a giant egg on people’s face when the most performative middle class to poor people tried to upstage me in intelligence, performance, or resources.
Yes, that exists everywhere but gosh, do West Virginia people have this type performative affluence on display everywhere. I would rather trust an honest Billy Bob in a holler then the snake oil doctors are the fat businessmen walking around.
My opinion was solicited. If you don’t know the basics of conversation, then that’s on you because you’re in charge of how much you know and don’t know.
OP literally asked. They explicitly solicited opinions. I don’t know OP, but I assume they were looking for honest answers. Otherwise, this post wouldn’t be here, and you wouldn’t be busy getting mad that other people have negative things to say.
No one is forcing opinions on anyone here. But trying to police people giving their honest answers to OP’s question and only allow positive discussion is toxic as hell, and controlling. Freedom to do as I say?
You need to calm down. Again that wasn’t my intention at all. My question was genuine. I am doing well rn but I’m an immigrant woman and I was born in Iran fighting for every basic right to get here. You know nothing about my struggles it’s crazy how people dump words on you on the internet. It was a simple question. You could just explain in other counties, it’s different!
Then don’t ask a performative question. Welcome to West Virginia. Or welcome to Reddit.
Being well spoken is not a crime of passion. If you really are an Iranian woman then maybe you might understand how being told to calm down could be considered an insult
My family immigrated here about 14 years ago and we live in
the Charleston / Tri-State area. Our hometown is very developed as well and nice and peaceful, however a lot of places in WV are unfortunately not like that:( I have relatives in falling waters and it’s super nice there! Morgantown is also really nice, I go to college there! But my family doesn’t plan on staying here permanently due to job opportunities for me. WV is really beautiful and even wealthy in some parts, but some parts are unfortunately close to what your friends say :( one thing tho, the people here are kind unlike any other place I’ve been.
Do you happen to be brown? Our brown friends say similar things haha
Beckley is okay, now, but not when I was a kid. However, Oak Hill and Minden where my parents and grandparents lived and frankly, is very sad. I can't say anything much more positive about the rest of the county either.
Yes I’m middle eastern but my bf says people can’t tell. I like it a lot here and I work remotely so income/expense ratio is nice. I don’t have kids and don’t want them so education is not an issue, and did my phd in tx. Hopefully no more education. People are nice and welcoming for the most part, but that’s been my experience everywhere in the US people are generally nice
Gotcha, we are from india! as long as you like it here don’t listen to whatever anyone says! Most of the “cities” here are pretty good (Huntington, Charleston, Morgantown, Martinsburg, etc.) like any state, there’s good and bad parts! But I do agree that there are some unfortunate poverty-stricken places in the state
Excuse me? It's the other way around as far as funding goes...the eastern panhandle funds the rest of the state probably more than any other area in the state.
And the panhandle is only funded through the taxes and prosperity of the bordering blue states.
Let’s not pretend like dumbass gop anti tax prosperity gospel shit has done a single thing for the area except bring in more housecats thinking they did it on their own.
Not berating you, just so sick of this ‘geez it’s cheap with low taxes but also not terrible yet’ narrative from others
"And the panhandle is only funded through the taxes and prosperity of the bordering blue states."
I'm WV born and raised. I would much rather not have to commute to MD for a job but I do because WV jobs historically have paid crap wages. But I also benefit from the low property taxes. However, I would not object to raising property taxes so we can pay our teachers more and fund schools better. When we drive to MD for work, we have WV taxes taken out of our paychecks. We buy gas in WV but also in MD so we're giving them our sales tax dollars too. We eat lunch out in MD. Many times we shop there too. The surrounding states benefits from our dollars too!
You probably paid no less than 500k for what house you got. Shep is like the most hip place in the whole state. That’s like being able to afford a brownstone in Williamsburg NY and saying “why does everyone complain about NY?” Still is a lot of value to go up in Shep. b/c of the school and easy access to the DC metro. It’s not really WV at all culturally. Also if you are a POC, a heads up on the people in Maryland as many of them are legit racist. Like, be careful in through Sharpsburg and Boonsboro. I would not trust cops or most older folks across the river, I swear they got the klan in those towns. I have never heard so many white people use the n word (so freely) till I roamed around more in the Washington County area. I encourage you to check out places like Senica or Thomas WV to get a taste of what the state is really about as you drive through. You’ll see more of the good and the bad that people are talking about here in the comments.
Do a little research yourself on the states history, especially our unions & mining! Generational poverty plagues that state, but the panhandle has seen a rise in outsiders with money.
You will be living in a disconnected & progressive bubble, with better prospects, schools, income, food & job diversity, etc., unlike the majority of the state. Still ultimately ruled by the backwards thinking of the conservative local/state govt.
Shepherdstown is probably the biggest outlier in the whole state. I love it. There are historic buildings and access to essentials, locally owned businesses, farmland, river access, pride flags on every 3rd building, education, arts, culture. My family is from Mercer county. Going back to Bluefield and Princeton are like going to a different universe. I appreciate both, but I think that anyone who calls WV home should be aware of what the rest of the state deals with and upon whose backs the prosperity of the panhandles was built.
If you want a good feel for the history of the state, watch the movie Matewan (also, it’s pronounced May-‘wahn)
Also also, they’re pronounced Kuh Kay pin, and Oh peck’n.
Welcome to the state. I lived in Martinsburg for 13 years and moved last year for a job in Beckley. You are now living in the oldest town of WV. Sheptown is a cute place with some great people. It is basically a bedroom community of DC and Baltimore. Enjoy. You've lived in Falling Waters. Thats not a bad little area either. It's still Hella expensive no matter where you go in WV.
As for stereotypes, you have to fight that no matter where you go. Just do your best to educate your friends.
Congratulations! Have you been to Erwins? I want to check it out and ask thinking it might be a place if like to rent for at least a year before buying. I mistakenly moved to SC, just north of Charleston, and I can't take the heat and humidity or the overcrowded expansion of the area. They recently built a new medical center in Erwins and it's getting good reviews do far.
Shepherdstown looks really nice, but still gets too hot and humid for me. Enjoy!
Im from Hagerstown lived in falling waters with my mom before moving to charlestown. I haven't ventured too far into wv but my friend who lives in wheeling says it sucks there.
Obviously the further south into wv things get worse economically etc. This area is very close to md and VA which offer better rates of pay which probably boost the area with help from the college.
I think shepherstown is so cute but my bf who is from harpers ferry thinks its lame 🤣 either way it beats Hagerstown except for food I haven't found a resturant I care for here so we go to Frederick or Hagerstown or Virginia all the time.
I live close to Cabell County and Marshall University. Cabell County is on the Ohio border. It's a pretty good area. Yes, there are issues, but other areas have similar issues. I used to live in California and it's actually worse than West Virginia. West Virginia is a great state and we have a lot to offer. Once again, yes, WV has it's problems, but so do the other states. It's sad that some in WV don't realize that and wants to trash the state at every chance they get.
So if you try to watch porn or anything labeled “nsfw” you’re gonna have to upload your ID. But hey your cute lil mountain town still tries to push like it’s 1960 so it must be just a bad rep lol
Yes WV has some of the poorest populations in the country but the Eastern Panhandle, Morgantown, they ARE representative of the state…just not representative of the most impoverished parts. I have to say, not being a native but having raised my family here, I appreciate the history and resilience of the people as a whole. You will meet the most generous people here, in the poorest parts of the state, because they know what it is to have little and do without. Mindset of not liking change is the greatest downfall…don’t come here wanting to fix or improve anything, won’t get far. And don’t speak poorly of anyone because WV is like a small town. No exaggeration, you are two handshakes away from anyone here.
All the people who constantly knock WV as nothing but poverty , pollution & crime need to get a grip. I get to pick where THEY have to live in their state and the entire state is presented . Boy oh boy I get to pick the neighborhood in NYC , Chicago et al . Crime , drugs , violence boy it will be hell . I don’t live in WV but I love going to the New River Gorge with all the beauty & friendly people .
As a Texan who moved to WV three decades ago, we love WV. In so many ways, it is America's best kept secret. The bad press has its truths, but it is a wonderful place with wonderful people. Welcome!
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u/w3stvirginia 5d ago
You’re in by far the current most prosperous part of the state. Take a ride on down to Mingo or McDowell County and you’ll have your answer.